List an attraction, event, or activity that is on your Top 10 List and be registered to win $500 in gift cards to The Common Man. The gift cards are good for all Common Man Family Restaurants, their...

Hooksett school board says member not following rules

HOOKSETT — The SAU 15 School Board, which includes members from the school boards of Candia, Auburn and Hooksett, met Wednesday and devoted time discussing how Hooksett school board member David Pearl is not adhering to resolutions passed during the June SAU meeting on how board members should treat one another and interact with SAU staff.

Pearl acknowledged at the meeting he is not adhering to the resolutions.

"I told them that I was not complying with the resolution and that they had no authority over a Hooksett School Board member. The SAU has no authority to tell a board member how to interact with the superintendent," Pearl said.

He said while the SAU board members were careful to say SAU staff, he believes they were referring to Superintendent Charles Littlefield.

"The reason I believe that is because I have very little interaction with the SAU staff outside of Dr. Littlefield, and anyway the policy of our board is that all communication between staff and board members goes through the superintendent," Pearl said.Pearl said he took offense to some board members characterizing his behavior as causing stress to the SAU staff."They have no proof of that; I objected to that," Pearl said.

Hooksett School Board Chair Trisha Korkosz said that after seeing the last couple of SAU meetings dominated by discussions of Pearl's behavior, she feels vindicated knowing she is not the only one with issues about Pearl's behavior.

"I think the SAU board has a reason to be frustrated with him, and as a sitting member of the SAU board I am very uncomfortable with how some members of the Hooksett School Board view the SAU board," Korkosz said.

Pearl said he told the Hooksett School Board that while the SAU board has no authority over individual board members, if the board wanted, it could tell administration officials how to interact with school board members.

"My point was that while they can't dictate to the Hooksett School Board, they can dictate to the SAU staff," Pearl said.

During the June meeting, SAU attorney Melissa Hewey of the law firm Drummond and Woodsum said the resolutions were designed to provide guidance for members only and there is no penalty for violating them.

"It is an interesting question: Where does the (SAU board) authority come from? As you can see, (the SAU board) wants to do things a certain way," Pearl said.

We have made it to the "unofficial" start to summer and the holiday weekend of Memorial Day, a day to remember those who died in service to our country. Don't lose that thought during this three day...